Bats Can't Complete Comeback as Robinson Blasts First Career Triple-A Homerun

LOUISVILLE, KY. – Chuckie Robinson launched his first career Triple-A homerun, but it wasn’t enough as Louisville couldn’t complete the rally, falling 5-4 in extra innings to Iowa on Wednesday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field.

[Box Score]

The Bats got on the board first for the second consecutive game, tallying a run in the home half of the first inning. Stuart Fairchild singled in his first at-bat at Louisville Slugger Field this season to start the inning. Alejo Lopez doubled down the right field line to put two runners in scoring position with one out for Cristian Santana, who brought Fairchild home with a sac-fly to give Louisville a 1-0 lead.

Iowa answered in the third, scoring three runs on two RBI knocks from former Bat Narciso Crook and Clint Frazier to take a 3-1 lead. The I-Cubs struck again two innings later as Crook drove in another run with his second double of the day.

Louisville worked its way out of a one out, bases loaded jam in the sixth inning, as Pedro Payano made a heads-up play, fielding a ground ball on the first base side of the mound and flipping it to the plate to get the force and save a run. Payano finished off the inning, striking out the next Iowa batter to stay within three runs, down 4-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth.

The Bats got things going again in the seventh with Byrd Tenerowicz taking an HBP to lead off the frame. Chuckie Robinson stepped up to the plate next and launched his first Triple-A homerun of his career, a two-run shot to left-center field, to get Louisville back within one, down 4-3.

Bats’ relievers Pedro Payano, Matt Pidich, Buck Farmer and Fernando Cruz combined to strikeout eight straight Iowa batters and retired 10 in order to keep Louisville in the game.

Louisville continued its rally in the ninth as Chuckie Robinson singled up the middle to lead off the inning. After the next two Bats struck out, Alejo Lopez singled to bring home TJ Friedl, who came on to pinch run for Robinson, and tie the game 4-4. Cristian Santana followed Lopez with a single, putting runners on the corners, but nothing else would come across the plate as the game went into extra innings for the fourth consecutive Wednesday.

The I-Cubs took advantage of the extra-inning runner rule and scored a run in the top of the 10th to take a 5-4 lead. Juniel Querecuto, placed at second to start the home half of the inning, stole third to get 90 feet closer to tying the game, but the Bats couldn’t bring him home, dropping game two of the series 5-4.

Louisville and Iowa will continue the series with game three tomorrow, June 23, with first pitch set for 7:05 pm E.T at Louisville Slugger Field. Reds’ rehabber, left hander Nick Lodolo (0-0, 9.00) will take the bump for the Bats, taking on righty Robert Gsellman (1-3, 5.64) for the I-Cubs.